Clough, Harbour & Associates, LLP/CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) earned the 2024 ACEC Connecticut Engineering Excellence Award in the Structural Systems category for rehabilitating and replacing the Windham Bridges in Windham, Connecticut. This recognition underscores the positive impact of CHA’s engineering solutions on transportation infrastructure in Connecticut.
Route 66 in Windham, Connecticut, was home to two aging bridges located a mere 200 feet apart near the intersection of Recycle Way. This project involved the rehabilitation of Bridge No. 00488, a structurally deficient steel pony truss built in the late 1930s spanning a spur line of Providence & Worcester (P&W) Railroad, and the superstructure replacement of Bridge No. 00489 over the P&W mainline using accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques to minimize closure time.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) entrusted CHA with managing the inspection, deterioration identification, and rehabilitation efforts for Bridge No. 00488, alongside the ABC design for Bridge No. 00489. Overcoming challenges such as a sharp skew, coordination with the railroad, and expiring funding, CHA successfully rehabilitated Bridge No. 00488 while it remained in service. The replacement of Bridge No. 00489 utilized ABC techniques to minimize closure time. The completed bridges significantly improve travel and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and the community.
Read more about the Windham Bridges.
The ACEC Connecticut Engineering Excellence Awards Dinner, held on January 22, 2024, celebrated CHA and other winning firms for their engineering innovation.
As an award winner, this project was advanced to the National ACEC 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards. It will be honored with a National Recognition Award at the ACEC National Awards Gala on May 15 in Washington, DC.
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Connecticut (ACEC/CT) supports and advocates for consulting engineering firms in Connecticut. Supported by a vast network of over 55,000 ACEC members nationwide, ACEC/CT fosters industry connections, drives innovation, and promotes engineering excellence. Learn more at ACEC/CT’s official website.